Concord vs Raleigh
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data
Concord
Raleigh
💡 The Verdict
Raleigh is 10% cheaper than Concord overall. A $75,000 salary in Concord is equivalent to $67,699 in Raleigh.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values for Concord (left) vs Raleigh (right). National average = 100.
Detailed Price Comparison
Estimated item-level prices in Concord versus Raleigh. Differences shown from Concord perspective.
| Item | Concord | Raleigh | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent | $1,110/mo | $1,010/mo | +$100.00 |
| 2-Bed Rent | $1,500/mo | $1,500/mo | $0.00 |
| 3-Bed Rent | $1,870/mo | $1,950/mo | $-80.00 |
| Bread (loaf) | $3.05 | $2.89 | +$0.16 |
| Milk (gallon) | $3.83 | $3.88 | $-0.05 |
| Eggs (dozen) | $3.34 | $3.31 | +$0.03 |
| Coffee (latte) | $5.62 | $5.93 | $-0.31 |
| Gas (gallon) | $3.55 | $3.37 | +$0.18 |
| Restaurant Meal | $17.19 | $18.36 | $-1.17 |
💰 Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Concord has the same purchasing power as $67,699 in Raleigh.
Conversely, $75,000 in Raleigh equals $83,088 in Concord.
💼 Take-Home Pay Comparison
Estimated annual take-home pay on a $75,000 salary after federal, FICA, and state income taxes.
The $3451 difference is driven by North Carolina having a higher state income tax rate. New Hampshire details → · North Carolina details →
Reading These Numbers: Concord (113) vs Raleigh (102)
Concord at 113 is 13% above the US average, while Raleigh at 102 is 2% above average. The cost difference between these cities is relatively modest.
In Concord, the composite index of 113 reflects a weighted calculation where housing carries the most influence at 115, followed by groceries (106), utilities (107), transportation (110), and healthcare (113). Costs are fairly balanced across categories.
For renters: With median rents of $1,500/mo in Concord and $1,500/mo in Raleigh, the annual rent difference is approximately $0.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $0.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.
For homebuyers: The $20,000.0 difference in median home prices between Concord and Raleigh translates to meaningful differences in mortgage payments at current rates. Factor this into your budget alongside property taxes and insurance, which also vary by location.
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Making Your Decision: Concord vs Raleigh
Choosing between Concord and Raleigh involves more than just comparing index numbers. Consider how each category aligns with your personal spending patterns. If you work from home, transportation costs matter less than housing and utilities. If you eat out frequently, the groceries index may understate your actual food spending — look at the restaurant meal prices in the detailed comparison table above instead.
Long-term affordability in Concord versus Raleigh depends partly on cost trajectory. Cities experiencing rapid population growth tend to see costs rise faster than established metros where supply has caught up with demand. While our index captures current conditions, consider whether the city trending cheaper today might converge toward average over the next five to ten years as more people discover it. Our quarterly updates help track these shifts over time.